ONE win and Hartlepool United are looking at the gap above them - one defeat and they are looking over their shoulders.

And now, ahead of Saturday's game with MK Dons at Victoria Park, midfielder Gary Liddle is calling on his side to show consistency.

Pools enjoyed a five-game winning streak in December, but then suffered an eight- game winless stretch.

But two wins from their last three, both at home against Colchester and Charlton, have taken Mick Wadsworth's side to within six points of the top six.

They were thumped at League One leaders Brighton last weekend, but Liddle thinks that Gus Poyet's side sets the example.

Southampton follow at home on Tuesday and Liddle, a scorer in midweek, said: "We have a run of three home games in a row, and coming into these games we were looking at teams below us and how many points the gap was.

"We knew these three games would go a long way to seeing how we go, and taking three points off Charlton puts us in good stead for Saturday.

"They beat us here 5-0 last season so we know what they are capable of, and it would be nice to get one over them this time.

"We have beaten Brighton and Peterborough at home so we are capable of doing it, but we let ourselves down against other teams below us.

"After winning on Tuesday everyone is looking upwards. We lost last weekend and people look over their shoulders.

"Good teams have consistency about them, Brighton have it every week and we have to make sure we build on Tuesday and do the fundamental things, heading, tackling and the like."

Liddle has been restored to midfield after spending last season at centre-half.

The switch has proved a double bonus for Wadsworth, as Peter Hartley has impressed in his preferred spot in the middle of the back four after starting out at Pools as a left-back.

Liddle now has five goals this season and admitted: "At the start of the season I felt I was at fault for a couple of goals.

"Then when we went to Plymouth, Mick put me in midfield and put Pete in central defence and he has never looked back. He's been great this season and I'm enjoying being in the thick of the action a bit more.

"To be honest, it felt a bit strange at first in midfield, but I've played there enough times over the years to pick it up."

Liddle and Paul Murray have been paired up in the middle of the park of late at home, as Wadsworth has switched from his long-preferred 4-5-1 to a 4-4-2 set up.

Working in tandem with the more experienced Murray has been of benefit to Liddle.

"Me and Muzza work well together, he sits in and I have a bit of a licence to bomb on.

"He is much more experienced than me, so I do a bit more running in there, but I enjoy it. He talks me through the game and is good to play with.

"I feel a bit up and down lately, my form has been like that, but it's the same for the team and hopefully results like Tuesday can help us.''

After losing last weekend, Pools had a long journey back up the M1 to reflect and start thinking about the current run of games to come.

It set them up for Tuesday and now Liddle admitted: "We spoke about these next three games coming up. On paper many people maybe wouldn't expect us to get much from them.

"But I'm sure people will look at this result and think otherwise.

"They are three massive games and if we can get seven or nine points out of them, we will be looking up rather than down.

"We didn't look like a team that had lost badly at Brighton - that wasn't acceptable and wasn't what Hartlepool United are all about.

"We wanted to show everyone we care about the place and we were desperate for the result.

"Our home form is good, when we get it right, the away form will follow. We haven't been great away from home lately, but if it will come.

"Before Christmas we were good away and not so much at home. Now it's the other way round, but we have still been on a bad run in January.

"Swindon were play-off finalists last year and are in the bottom four now. It shows it's about the right attitude and I thought we fancied it against Charlton the other night."